Alarm timing device



Aug. 11,1942. f F.LUX 2,292,576

ALARM T IMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORFrzden'ck Lux.

ATTO RNEY Aug. 11, 1942. F, Lux 2,292,576

ALARM TIMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 25, 193'? 2 ShetS-Sheet 2 INVENJTORfinedenarLux.

Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATE ALARM TIDIING DEVICE Frederick Lux,Waterbury, Conn., assignor to The Lux Clock Manufacturing Company, Wa-

.terbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 25,1931, Serial No. 165,733

16 Claims.

This invention relates to timing devices, and more particularly to aninterval timer adapted to sound an alarm at the expiration of anydetermined period of time.

One object of this invention is to provide a time-controlled one-strokealarm for use in homes, hospitals, laboratories, photographic studios,etc., to time various operations that require a specific period of timefor their completion.

Another object is to provide a timing device wherein the time-controlledspring will be wound and 'the alarm mechanism set in operative conditionsimultaneously by the manual turning of a visible indicating pointer,and in which the time-operating mechanism will start as soon as thepointer is released after being set at the desired time indicatingpoint, but the alarm mechanism will be restrained until the determinedtime period has expired- A further object is to provide in a timingdevice of the above nature, a time-controlling train of gears driven bya main controlling spring, a manually operable pointer to wind saidspring and to set a catch-restrained, spring-actuated hammer, and meansto release the hammer at the expiration of a determined time period topermit it to strike a bell.

A still further object is to provide an alarm timer of the above naturewhich will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easyto manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very efficient anddurable in use.

With these and other objects in view, there has been illustrated on theaccompanying drawings one form in which the invention may beconveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a front view of an interval alarm timer embodying thefeatures and principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the alarm timer mechanism removed from itsouter casing, the bell being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the time-controlling mechanism with the alarmmechanism removed.

Figs. 4, and 6 are enlarged sectional views, respectively, taken on theline 1-4 of Fig. 2 and illustrating various positions of the severalparts of the alarm mechanism during the operation of the device.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicatethe same parts throughout the several views, the numeral II) issupported by feet II upon a flat surface, such as atable or shelf. Thetiming device is provided with a face l2 upon which time-indicatingnumerals-J3 are arranged in circular dial form. A manually-operablepointer I4 is provided in front of the face l2 to cooperate with theindicating numerals l3 to visually indicate the time intervals for whichthe device may be set to operate.

The pointer 14 is secured upon the front end of a shaft l5 which passesthrough a shell l6 enclosing a time-controlled mechanism which is shownsupported between a pair of plates l1 and I8 which are mounted withinthe casing. The time-controlled mechanism may be of any desired standardform having a main spring l9 which, when wound, drives a train of gearsand pinions 28 under control of any usual form of escapement 2l.- Themain spring i9 is operably connected with the shaft l5 so as to be woundup whenever the pointer it is manually rotated clockwise to any one ofthe indicating numerals l3 and, upon release of the pointer 14, saidspring I9 serves (as viewed in Fig. 1) to drive the gears and pinions 20and produce a constant speed of timed rotation of the shaft l5. Asherein disclosed, the construction is such that one complete revolutionof the shaft 15 is equivalent to a period of one hour.

The shaft l5 extends through the casing l6 and has a setting arm 22secured upon its rear end for rotation therewith. The arm 22, beingconnected to the shaft i5, is necessarily moved by the manual setting ofthe pointer M to the desired indicating numeral 13, and said arm thenswings counter-clockwise (as viewed from the front) with said shaft l5under the speed control of the escapement 2! and the driving influenceof the main spring [9,

As is clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the alarm mechanism includes aswingable catch or trigger release arm 23 pivoted at 24 to the casingHi. The arm 23 has a catch shoulder 25 at its free end which is adaptedto engage with a wedge action a flange 26 provided on the free end of anarm 21 of a bell-crank hammer lever 28 to releasably hold it in a setposition. The lever 28 is pivoted to the casing I6 at 29, and the otherarm 30 thereof is provided at its free end with a hammer lug 3| which,when said lever 28 is released from the restraining action of the catcharm 23, is adapted to strike the insideof a dome-shaped bell 32. Thebell 32 is secured to a curved offset bracket 33 by a screw 34, thebracket in turn being secured to the casing I6 indicates an outer casingwhich in this instance by rivets 35.

A coiled spring 36 is secured at one of its ends to a lug 31 provided onthe catch arm 23, and at its other end to a lug 33 provided on thearm',2l of the hammer lever 23. .The tension of the spring 33 constantlytends to pull the free end of the catch arm 23 and the arm 21 of thehammer lever 23 toward each other--thus urging the hammer lug 3| toswing outwardly against the bell 32. A stop pin 33 is secured to thecasing i6 and extends upwardly into the. path of the arm 21 to limit themovement of the hammer lug 3| toward the bell 32. A second stop pin 43is also secured to the casing i3 and extends upwardly through anelongated slot 4| formed in the catch arm 23 to limit the swingingmovement of said catch arm 23 in both directions.

The setting arm 22, secured on the shaft I6, is provided with a shortupstanding lug 42 which, when the arm 22 is rotated in a clockwisedirection (as viewed in Figs. 46) by the unwinding of the timer mainspring I 3, is adapted to engage a cooperating upstanding lug 43provided on the catch arm 23 to force said catch arm 23 in a clockwisedirection against the tension of the spring 36. This movement of thecatch arm 23 will release the hammer lever 23 from the restrainingaction of the catch shoulder 26 (which engages the flange 26 by atrigger action), and will permit the spring 33 to abruptly swing thehammer lever 23 in a clockwise direction and cause the hammer lug 3| tostrike the bell 32. The setting arms 22 is provided with a shortcylindrical stud 44 upon its free end (see Fig. 6) and mounted to rotateon said stud 44 is a roller 44a. which is adapted to engage a curvedcamming edge 46 provided on the arm 21 of the hammer lever 23 when thesetting arm is moved in a counter-clockwise direction during the settingoperation, as viewed in Figs. 4 to 6, whereby said lever will be cammedinto its set" position with the catch shoulder 25 disposed in engagementwith the flange 23 on the free end of the arm 21 (see Fig. 5).

The flange 23 is preferably disposed at an inclination to the shoulder26 on the end of the trigger catch arm 23, so as to cause a wedgeengagement therebetween when the device is being set. When the hammerlever has reached the position shown in Fig. 6-the shoulder 26 on thetrigger catch arm 23 by the automatic action of the spring- 33 willstart to engage the inclined flange 26 on the hammer lever 23, and saidshoulder will gradually. slide on said flange by a wedge action untilthe hammer lever 23 has moved further into the position shown in Fig. 5.Continued counter-clockwise motion (Figs. 4-6) of the setting arm 22during the setting operation will carry the roller 44a out of engagementwith the-cam surface 46 on the hammer lever 23. This prevents anypossibility of loading the time keeping mechanism during the running ofthe clock when. the roller 440 on the arm 22 passes the high point ofthe cam as it moves in a clockwise direction. In other words, the hammerlever 33 will be positively held in this position clear of the roller44a by the wedging engagement of the shoulder 26 and the flange 23, andsaid hammer lever will be presented from moving backwards by the takingup of backlash so that the roller 44a will not bump the cam 46 on thereturn clockwise-motion oi the setting lever as the clock runs down.

In case it should be necessaryio set the timer for sixty minutes (a full360 degree arc), the

lug 42 on the setting lever 22 will engage the opposite side of the lug43 on the catch lever 23, and will force the shoulder 26 still fartherup the inclined flange 23 on the hammer lever 33. This motion islimited, however, by the engagement of the end of the slot 4| with thestud 43, thus insuring an accurate sixty minute setting 01' the alarm.

One advantage of the present invention is that the frictional resistancebetween the catch or trigger lever and the hammer lever is quite small,so that only a very slight load is imposed upon the time-keepingmechanism at the alarm tripping or zero" position-thus making itpossible to employ a small and relatively weak clock movement.

Operation In operation, assuming thht it is desired to set the device tosound the alarm after an elapsed period of fourteen minutes, the pointerM will be manually turned clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 1) to theindicating mark l3, representing fourteen" on the dial face i2, as shownin dotted lines in Fig. 1. This action will cause the shaft l3 to rotatein a clockwise direction and wind up the mainspring i3. At the same timethe setting arm 22 will be swung (counter-clockwise as viewed in Figs.4-3) from the position of Fig. 4 into the position shown in full linesin Fig. 6, carrying the roller 444 over the camming edge 43 on the arm21 of the hammer lever 23, and by engagement therewith, causing saidlever 23 to be swung until the lever 23 assumes the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 4. The catch arm 23 will then be free to swingautomatically into the position shown in Fig. 4 by the action of thespring 36 thereon-the catch lever then causing the hammer lever to swinga short distance farther until it is clear oi the roller 4, as alreadydescribed (see Fig. 5).

As the main spring l3 unwinds under the control of the train of gears 23and the escapement 2|, the shaft II will be rotated clockwise (as viewedin Figs. 4-6), swinging the setting arm 22 in the same direction towardthe catch arm 23 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 6. Atthe expiration of the predetermined period of fourteen minutes in thepresent instance, the lug 42 on the setting arm 22 will engage with thelug 43 on the catch arm 23, as shown in Fig. 6, and continued rotationoi theshaft|6willcausethecatcharm23to overcome the slight frictionbetween the catch shoulder 26 and the flange '26 of the hammer lever 23and release said hammer lever 23, permitting the spring 33 to abruptlyswing it from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in' Fig. 4,whereupon the hammer lug 3| will sharply strike the bell 32 with asingle stroke to audibly indicate the expiration of the elapsed flme offourteen minutes. After such action, the above described parts will beagain disposed in their respective normal positions as shown in Fig. 4,and the main spring is is prevented from rotating the pointer 4. beyondits zero" position 'in respect to the dial by the engagement oi the stoppin 43 with the right-hand end of the slot 4|, as shown in Fig. 4.

While there has been disclosed in this speciflcation one form in whichthe invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form isshown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention isnot to be limited to the specific disclosure but may be modifled andembodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. Inshort, the invention includes all the modifications and embodimentscoming within the scopeof the following pivoted in said frame,manualmeans to swing said setting arm in one direction to set the alarmtimer, a time-keeping mechanism drivingly connected to said setting armtoautomatically move it in the return direction, a spring-actuatedalarm-sounding lever initially lying in the path of said setting arm andswingable out of said path, said alarm-sounding'lever having a camsection 'engageable by said setting arm to swing said lever to setposition against the action of its' spring, said lever having a flange,'a springactuated catch arm pivoted on said frame for restraining saidlever from sounding the alarm, and having a cam section for engagingsaid flange with a wedge action during the manual alarm settingoperation for causing said lever to swing farther than it was moved bysaid setting arm and until it is moved entirely clear of the path ofsaid setting arm, whereby the latter on its automatic return motion willbe permitted to move past said lever without engagement therewith, thusavoiding the loading of said setting arm, said catch armbeing in thepath of said setting arm on its automatic return and movable by saidsetting arm to release said lever and permit it to sound said alarm.

2. In a'timing device, a frame, a main shaft mounted in said frame, amanually settable pointer on said shaft to rotate said shaft in onedirection, a spring-driven time-keeping mechanism carried by said frameto rotate said shaft in the opposite direction back .to its initialposition, a spring-actuated swingable bell-striking lever pivoted tosaid frame, a, releasable springactuated catch lever pivoted to saidframe and having a sliding wedge engagement with said bell-strikinglever to hold it in one position against its spring action, and a commonsetting arm having cam engagement with said alarmstriking lever to moveinto catch-heldposition when said shaft is rotated manually and torelease said catch to permit swinging of said lever by spring actionwhen said shaft is automatically rotated to its initial position, theengagement of said bell-striking lever by said catch lever causing saidbell-striking lever to swing clear of the setting arm so that on thereturn motion of said setting arm said time-keeping mechanism will notbe loaded,

3. In a timing device, a frame having a bell mounted thereon, asingle-stroke alarm mechanism including a swingable lever pivoted tosaid 1 frame adapted to strike said bell, a spring to actuate saidlever, a. releasable catch lever mounted on said frame to restrain saidstriking lever against" actuation by said spring, a rotary membercarried by said frame to set said striking lever in catch-restrainedposition when manually rotated in one direction, time-controlled meansto automatically rotate said member in the re-' verse direction torelease said catch, and means to swing said bell-striking lever a shortdistance farther when said catch lever engages it to avoid loading ofsaid time-controlled means when the setting lever moves back to originalposition.

4. In atiming mechanism, a casing having a bell mounted thereon, asingle-stroke alarm mechanism including a swingable lever in said casingadapted to strike said bell, a releasable catch in said casing torestrain said lever against in catch-restrained position, said catchhaving wedge engagement with said lever to move the latter out of thepath of said setting means, the movement of said means in the oppositedirection serving to release said catch at the expiration of adetermined time period.

5. In a timing mechanism, a casing having a bell mounted thereon, asingle-stroke alarm mechanism in saidcasing including a swingable leveradapted to strike said bell, a releasable catch secured to said casingto restrain said lever against said bell-striking actuation, a commonspring to swing said lever into bell-striking position and to hold saidcatch in lever-restraining position, a windable spring-driventime-controlled mechanism, means in said casing responsive to the manualwinding of saidmechanism to engage and set said lever incatch-restrained position, and 'means automatically operated by theoper-- ation of said mechanism torelease said catch at the expiration ofa determined time period, said catch having a sliding wedge engagementwith said lever serving to swing said lever through a slight additionalangle out .of the path of said manual setting means to avoid loading ofsaid time-controlled mechanism on the return motion of said windablemechanism.

6. In an interval timer, a casing, a shaft mounted therein, means insaid casing to drive said shaft at constant speed, manually operatedmeans to set said shaft to operate for any desired time period, an alarmactuating lever pivoted in said casing adapted to operate at theexpiration of the pre-set time period, cam engaging means on saidsetting means to engage and move said actuating lever to cockedposition, a latch member connected to said casing and having aslidingwedge engagement with said actuating lever to positively hold it at theextreme position reached during the cooking operation, and meansresponsive to the driving of said shaft to release said latch member atthe conclusion of the set period.

. '7. In a timing device, a frame, a shaft mounted in said frame, awindable spring-driven timekeeping mechanism connected to said shaft, aspring-pressed alarm striking lever, a manuallyoperated cocking memberconnected to said shaft,

said member having cam engagement with said' lever to swing it inonedirection, a releasable catch arm having a sliding wedge engagement withsaid lever continuing to the end of the cocking operation after it hasbeen initially swung by catch having a sliding wedge engagement withsaid member to move it beyond the point to which it was swung by saidsetting arm whereby it will be out of the path of said arm on the returnmotion thereof.

9. In a timing device, a frame, a shaft mounted in said irame, awindable spring-driven timekeeping mechanism connected to said shaft, 9.spring-pressed alarm striking lever, a manuallyoperated cocking memberconnected to said shaft, said member having cam engagement with saidlever to swing it in one direction, a releasable catch arm having asliding wedge engagement with said lever continuing to the end of thecocking operation after it has been initially swung by of saidcocking-member to swing said alarm striking. lever. in one direction, aspring-pressed catch" arm having releasable holding engagement with saidalarm striking lever and having a slidl wedge engagement with said alarmstriking lever'continuing to the end of the cocking operation after saidalarm striking lever has been initially swung by said cocking-memberinto cocking position for causing said alarm striking lever to be swungthrough a small additional angle whereby said alarmstriking lever willbe held out of the path of said cocking-member during the returnunlatching movement of the latter under the driving action of saidtime-movement to avoid loading-said time-movement when saidcocking-member is driven in the reverse direction from that in which itwas manually moved to wind the time-movement and cock the alarm strikinglever.

11. An interval alarm timer comprising a windable spring-driventime-movement, a springpressed alarm striking lever having a cam noseand a latching flange, a manually-operated cocking-member mounted tomove in the path of said cam nose and connected to said time-movementfor winding it and cocking the alarm striking lever when saidcocking-member is manually moved in one direction, a latching triggerarm having releasable holding engagement with said flange and alsohaving sliding wedge engagement with said flange continuing to the endof the cocking operation after said alarm striking lever has beeninitially swung by said,cocking member for causing said alarm strikinglever to be swung a short distance farther and out of the path of saidcocking member on its return unlatching movement to free saidcocking-member from obstruction by said alarm striking lever when saidcocking-member is driven in the reverse unlatching direction by theoperation of said timemovement.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 10 in which said alarm strikinglever and said catch arm are connected together by a coiled tensionspring, the opposite ends of which are Joined to said alarm strikinglever and catch arm, respectively.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 11, characterized by having aslip-friction clutch in the connection between said time-movement andsaid cocking member for permitting manuallycontrolled partial returnmovement of said cocking-member independently of said time-movement.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 10, characterized by having aslip-friction clutch in the connection between said time-movement andsaid cocking-member for permitting manuallycontrolled partial returnmovement of said cocking-member independently of said time-movement.

15. In an interval alarm timer, a frame having a signal bell mountedthereon, a single-stroke alarm mechanism including a spring-pressedbell-striking lever pivoted to said frame in position to strike saidbell a single-stroke, a windable spring-driven time-movement, amanuallyoperated cocking-member pivoted to said frame and connected withsaid time-movement for winding it and cocking said bell-striking leverwhen said cocking-member is turned in one direction, a spring-pressedtrigger lever mounted on said frame and having releasable holdingengagement with said bell striking lever and also having a sliding wedgeengagement with said bell-striking lever continuing to the end of thecocking operation after said bell-striking lever has been initiallyswung by said cocking-member into cocking position for causing saidbell-strik- *5 ing lever to swing through a small additional anglewhereby said bell-striking lever will be held out of the path of saidcocking-member during the return unlatching movement of the latter underthe operation of said time-movement, to avoid loading of saidtime-movement.

16. An interval alarm timer comprising a windable spring-pressedtime-movement, an alarm bell, a spring-pressed bell-striking lever inalinement with said bell, a manually-operated rotary cocking-member .inalinement with-said bellstriking lever and connected with saidtimemovement for winding it and moving said bellstriking lever intococked position when said cocking member is manually rotated in onedirection, a handle connected to said cockingmember, said bell-strikinglever having a catch flange, a spring-pressed trigger lever havingreleasable holding engagement with said flange and also having aslidable wedge engagement with said flange continuing to the end of thecocking operationfor causing said bell-striking lever to s ing through asmall additional angle whereby said trigger lever will hold saidbell-striking lever out of the path of said cocking-member during thereturn unlatching movement of the latter when driven by saidtime-movement to avoid loading of said time-movement prior to theunlatching of said trigger lever from said bellstriking lever .by saidcocking-member.

FREDERICK LUX.

